In collaboration with MOPTIL, the art of shadow theater and the legendary characters of Karagiozis come to life in an innovative experience that combines the traditional puppet with future technologies. At the Spatharis Shadow Theater Museum of the Municipality of Marousi, visitors have the opportunity to experience the story of Karagiozis and the famous shadow theater artist, Eugenios Spatharis, through innovative technologies.
As part of the project, MOPTIL developed several digital experiences that bring the museum’s content to life, including an interactive Augmented Reality application of the classic shadow theater play “The Spit of Athanasios Diakos” and realistic full-size holograms of the famous shadow theater figures, Karagiozis and artist Eugenios Spatharis, using state-of-the-art 3D modeling tools, motion capture, and lip-syncing techniques.
These digital experiences are now available to the public and were created in collaboration with InDigital, as part of the broader project “Showcasing Aspects of the Greek Revolution of 1821 through Karagiozis Performances, Utilizing New AR & VR Technologies, to Enhance the Sensory Experience and Learning of Visitors to the Shadow Theater Museum of the Municipality of Marousi, Eugenios Spatharis.”
The application of these technologies at the Spatharis Museum is a pioneering step in preserving and promoting cultural heritage in a modern and interactive way, highlighting the power of innovation in spreading Greek tradition and culture.
Full-Size Holograms
The most impressive and visually captivating innovation of the project is the use of full-size holograms. On a special 2-meter high screen, holograms of Karagiozis and Eugenios Spatharis appear, offering an experience that combines tradition with cutting-edge technology. The hologram of Karagiozis sings, greets visitors, and invites them to discover the magical world of shadow theater, while the hologram of Eugenios Spatharis, using motion capture, recreates his facial expressions and movements with absolute accuracy, bringing his personal stories to life.
Augmented Reality (AR) in Shadow Theater
MOPTIL developed a unique AR application that portrays the classic work of shadow theater, “The Spit of Athanasios Diakos.” Through the visitors’ mobile phones, shadow theater characters appear in three-dimensional form in the user’s physical space, offering a new dimension to the classic performance. Additionally, the application presents a 3D reconstructions based on digitized sets from the Spatharis Museum, while the experience is enriched with professional recordings, creating an immersive atmosphere.
Digital Art Creation and Interactive Applications
MOPTIL also introduced an interactive mobile application that allows visitors to explore the art of shadow theater, giving them the opportunity to color and customize digital versions of Karagiozis and other characters. Users can compare their creations with the original designs, discovering the history and cultural significance behind each figure.
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